Aligned Minds Workshop Methodology

for enhanced research impact on policy development and implementation

Methodology currently being developed

Currently, we are developing a methodology that provides practical tools to facilitate meaningful stakeholder engagement with research findings leading to policy action. The methodology is mainly developed to support researchers, academic consortia, policymakers, and stakeholders engaged in policy-oriented research in the field of international cooperation. It aims to enhance the impact of research projects by directly influencing policy formulation, development and implementation processes.

The methodology is called Aligned Minds as it focuses on engaging multiple stakeholders from the local knowledge ecosystem in order to bring alignment in their understanding of the problem being addressed and possible solutions. By aligning diverse stakeholder groups in this way greater potential is built to realise impact through collective action. 

This methodology is intended to and complements existing guides and tools on stakeholder engagement and policy impact such as the societal impact toolkit of the Dutch Research Council (NWO). While existing toolkits and guides highlight the importance of stakeholder engagement and give tools to identify relevant stakeholders, but lack practical tools on how to engage with stakeholders and create an enabling environment in which stakeholders can work together effectively.

The methodology is still under development and will be finalised and published mid-2025. The Aligned Minds workshop methodology is based on a quick scan of relevant academic and grey literature, and draws heavily on existing methodologies and toolkits for strengthening local knowledge ecosystems, collective impact networks, and enhancing research impact. This is complemented by expert interviews with researchers and practitioners and an online validation workshop with stakeholders will be held to validate and refine the methodology, ensuring its practicality and alignment with needs. Thereafter, the refined methodology will be piloted in Ethiopia and Kenya with a group of stakeholders consisting of researchers, policymakers, knowledge institutes and NGOs connected to the thematic research within the NWO SDG interactions programme. Based on the insights from the workshop the methodology will be further refined and developed into a replicable framework for strengthening the impact of research projects on policy development.